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Image: David D'Angelo, Visitor Engagement Officer at Migration Museum. Image Credit: Migration Museum

Who: History Trust of South Australia & South Australia Maritime Museum
What: Guided tours
Where: Migration Museum – 82 Kintore Ave, Adelaide
When: Tuesday 5 May 12.15pm-1.15pm; Sunday 17 May 2pm-3pm; Tuesday 21 May 1pm-2pm; Saturday 30 May 11am-12pm
Cost: $10 per person,

This May, South Australians are invited to step into the stories that shape their state as returns with a rich program of events, including a series of guided tours at the Migration Museum.

Presented by the History Trust of South Australia & South Australian Maritime Museum, these tours will bring life to the people, journeys, and cultures that have built modern South Australia over the past 190 years. Guided by passionate host David, visitors will explore not just historical artefacts, but the unique, eye-opening human experiences behind them.

For David, understanding migration is essential to understanding ourselves. “If you don’t know anything about how people came to South Australia, then you don’t know anything about yourself and why you are here,” he explains. With 97% of the population having migrant heritage, and around 430,000 South Australians born overseas, the state’s identity is inseparable from its migration story. At the same time, he emphasises the importance of recognising Indigenous history, with First Nations peoples having lived on and cared for this land for over 50,000 years.

The tours also highlight the remarkable diversity of South Australia today. People from more than 200 countries call the state home, speaking around 250 languages and practising over 100 religions. “We are an extremely diverse, multicultural society. And yet we are one people,” David says. Through storytelling and shared histories, the tours encourage visitors to appreciate not only their own background but also the experiences of others, an understanding he believes is key to social cohesion.

“We get so much misinformation from the media about how various migrant groups are causing trouble – we rarely hear about how this country has been built, and continues to thrive, because of the efforts of so many migrants."

– David D’Angelo, Visitor Engagement Officer at the Migration Museum

The tours at the Migration Museum are designed for everyone from all walks of life. While school groups often attend, David is clear that the message extends beyond the classroom. Adults, families, and individuals of all ages are encouraged to take part, fostering conversations that extend well beyond the museum walls. In an era where public discourse around migration can be polarising, these tours offer a grounded, thoughtful perspective on how migrants have helped shape and continue to strengthen the nation.

and the upcoming tours at the Migration Museum are a timely reminder that history is not just about where we have been, but about understanding who we are today.

“It is a challenge to make a country with such a diverse population work successfully, but we have been doing it well, and an understanding of our migrant history is a good step in continuing to do that job well.”

– David D’Angelo, Visitor Engagement Officer at the Migration Museum

Bookings are required for these upcoming tours, so be sure to secure your place in advance before it sells out >>

The Migration Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm for self-guided tours, where visitors can also explore the exhibits at their own pace.